HC Deb 08 April 1925 vol 182 cc2216-7
59. Mr. HARRIS

asked the Minister of Labour when the London Central Unemployment Committee last met; how many times did it meet during 1924; what are its functions; what funds has it got at its disposal; how much did it spend in 1924; and for how many men during that year did it find work?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

I have been asked to reply. As the reply to this question is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. HARRIS

Am I to understand that this Committee has met more than once a year? Is that not a very simple question?

Sir K. WOOD

That is only part of the question, but I will answer it. The last meeting of the central body was held on the 12th December, 1924. It held no other meeting that year.

Following is the reply:

It is assumed that this question relates to the Central (Unemployed) Body for London, established under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. The Central Body last met on the 12th December, 1924. It held no other meeting during that year, but standing and other committees of the body met on 21 occasions. The functions of the body are laid down by the Act of 1905, but in so far as the provision of work for the unemployed is concerned those functions have necessarily been in abeyance since the policy was adopted of making direct grants, towards the cost of the provision of work, to local authorities, and not through the central body. The body is at present chiefly concerned with the management of the Hollesley Bay Farm Colony. The body may receive funds from voluntary contributions and may also levy a. rate upon the City of London and the metropolitan borough councils. In the past nine years only two rates have been so levied, of one-twenty-fourth and one-thirty-second respectively of a penny in the £. The body also receives considerable sums from the sales of farm and garden produce grown at the colony. In the year 1924 the body expended just under £40,000, of which nearly £25,000 represents sales of produce, and the balance was derived mainly from payments made by boards of guardians for the maintenance and training of men at the colony. During the year, work was found at the colony for 947 men.